Preceded by Anna Verna Role Politician Name Darrell Clarke | Political party Democratic Preceded by John Street Party Democratic Party | |
 | ||
Yorktown day 2014 darrell l clarke shirley kitchen w curtis thomas
Darrell L. Clarke (born 1952) is an American politician and member of the Democratic Party. He is the President of the Philadelphia City Council, where he represents the Fifth District, which encompasses North Central Philadelphia, Strawberry Mansion, Lower Hunting Park, Ludlow, Yorktown, West Poplar, Fairhill, Brewerytown, Francisville, Spring Garden, Fairmount, Logan Square, and parts of Northwood, Fishtown, Northern Liberties, and Center City.
Contents
- Yorktown day 2014 darrell l clarke shirley kitchen w curtis thomas
- Early life and education
- Political career
- Election to city council
- City council tenure
- References
Early life and education
A native of North Philadelphia, Clarke graduated from Edison High School.
Political career
Clarke was a longtime aide to John Street, who represented the Fifth District for nearly three decades and eventually became Council President.
Election to city council
In December 1998, Street resigned as a member of the City Council and as the body's President.
Clarke ran for, and was elected to, Street's Fifth District seat in the 1999 special election held on the day of the state's primary.
City council tenure
Clarke is a former Majority Whip and is the Chair of the Fiscal Stability and Public Property Committees and Vice Chairman of the Appropriations Committee. He was elected to the position of Council President after the office was vacated by the retiring Anna Verna.
One of Clarke's legislative actions was his introduction of the bill to end the City-subsidized lease on the 80-year-old headquarters building of the Cradle of Liberty Council of the Boy Scouts of America over their ban on gay scouts. After a protracted legal battle, the bill was overturned in Federal court and the City of Philadelphia was ordered to pay nearly a million dollars in legal fees to the Boy Scouts.